Desiderata Counseling

I’ve been working with adolescents and teens since before I even attended graduate school, and it’s helped shape how I understand and work with young people. I’ve worked with adolescents across a wide range of settings including group homes, residential programs, juvenile detention, foster care, and family homes. In these experiences, I’ve worked with teenagers navigating complex challenges – from behaviors that threaten their safety like self harm and running away, to depression, anxiety, anger, neurodiversity-related struggles, identity questions, school challenges, and managing conflict. What I’ve learned is that when teens feel connected, they are better able to build the skills they need and truly communicate. Adolescents thrive when they don’t feel like they’re sitting in a doctor’s office but rather working with someone who genuinely understands them and meets them where they are.

My approach centers on building real connection in session through activities that keep engagement alive and authentic. Even in virtual sessions, we can incorporate hands-on activities using art supplies or play games like chess or Connect four while we talk. I aim to help adolescents open up and actually want to come to therapy instead of feeling forced. I incorporate collaborative problem solving into my work with teens, and I often coordinate this with parenting work to create consistency across their world. Beyond individual sessions, I’m committed to care coordination with schools and wraparound teams when needed. This might mean attending IEP meetings, connecting with school counselors, or participating in wraparound meetings. This can be especially helpful for teens moving down in a level of care (such as discharging from an intensive outpatient program) or families trying to provide services to their teen to avoid requiring a higher level of care.

My goal is straightforward: give adolescents the support and skills they need to stay safe, thrive, and set themselves up for a happy and healthy future. Adolescence is such a critical time where the path forward starts to unfurl, and I’m honored to be part of that journey.